HELLS KITCHEN — Stage Door Deli, which has carved up hot pastrami and corned beef sandwiches and other deli fare for 15 years across from Penn Station, was forced to move out of its current space due to a rent hike, its owner said.
It’s scheduled to re-open in September at its new location 360 9th Ave., Tom Argyris, the deli's owner, said.
Haymes Investment, the company that owns the building where Stage Door is currently located on the northwest corner of 33rd Street and Eighth Avenue, is raising the rent come September, Argyris said. He declined to give specifics.
“It was too much, I can’t pay that kind of money,” Argyris said, who declined to say how much the landlord was now demanding. "It’s ridiculous.”
Stage Door will be replaced by TD Bank, according to 5 Penn Plaza's website.
Haymes Investment's Chief Financial Officer declined to comment. A spokeswoman said, “We’re not interested in talking to anybody.”
Argyris said he was sad to be leaving the diner’s longtime home.
“Yes of course [I’m sad], but what can I do?” he said.
